By Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders’ crucial goal disallowed as controversy continues vs Warriors

Mar 28, 2018 | 10:47 PM

In a tight checking but still exciting affair, the Prince Albert Raiders were down 1-0 in the third looking for an equalizer and just for a second, they  they had it.

Raiders sophomore Cole Fonstad rifled one past Warriors goaltender Brody Willms and the Art Hauser Centre faithful erupted. 

Cole Fonstad ties this game up on the rebound and the Art Hauser Centre hasn’t been louder. But now, there’s a conference around the scorer’s table though for possible goalie interference pic.twitter.com/P6DvocmBIs

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) March 29, 2018

But the goal was called back after it was ruled Raiders defenceman Max Martin collided with Willms. The Warriors went on to win the game 2-0 after a late empty net goal, and take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven WHL playoff series. The Raiders face elimination for the rest of the way, starting with Game 5 on Saturday in Moose Jaw. 

No goal as it’s ruled Martin collided with Willms. He’s at least partially out of the crease though when contact is made. Raider fans not happy. Still 1-0 Warriors pic.twitter.com/sxkDHK8Tl1

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) March 29, 2018

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“I disagree obviously. We’re allowed to go to the crease, go to the net,” Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid. “The blue paint is his area, but we weren’t in the blue paint and didn’t impede his way. He tried to get over and he just kind of lost an edge and the goalie couldn’t get over. To make that call at that time, that’s a tough one.”

For Cole Fonstad, would have been one of the biggest, if not the most important, goal that he’s scored in his WHL career thus far. During  Wednesday’s media scrum, Fonstad discussed the emotional rollercoaster after thinking he scored and the disallowed goal.

“I was pretty pumped up to score and tie it up and we planning on getting this last game at home and playing the best-of-three for the rest of the series here,” Fonstad said. “But it’s tough to take away. We just got to rebound quick and get another one.”

Martin talked about his involvement with the play.

“I didn’t think it was interference,” Martin said. “I stopped well out of the blue paint and the goalie pushed off me. I have my opinion on it, but that’s the way the ref saw it.

As far as the Raiders are concerned, this is the third straight game where a call at a crucial time has gone against them. In Game 3 in the third period of a one-goal game, Kody McDonald was taken to the ice by Warriors defenceman Brandon Schuldhaus. Only McDonald was levied with an embellishment penalty while Schuldhaus skated to the Warriors’ bench safely—instead of offsetting minors being given.

In Game 2, the Raiders looked to have gone on the power play in the overtime period after one of the linesmen signalled for a too many men penalty, but that was reversed by the officials.

“It just adds to it. If you go from Game 1 until now—I gotta defend my guys, they’ve played hard—but every break and every call has gone against us. The too many men in overtime, everything,” Habscheid said. “But we’re not done yet. It could be 4-0 in our favour so we’re not done.”

But when pushed further and asked whether or not his team is getting a fair shake for the officiating, Habscheid digressed and turned the conversation into motivation for his players.

“It’s not for me to say, but everyone seeing the games, they can make their own opinions,” Habscheid said. “The fact is we’re down 3-1, we can look at that all we want, but the facts are we’re down 3-1. I think our guys did a good job of not looking at that as a crutch or a reason to loose. We’re not finding excuses to lose, we’re finding reasons to win.”

Warriors forward Justin Almeida was the only Warriors to beat Raiders tender Ian Scott, scoring in the second period. Brayden Burke added an empty net goal late.  

Both Almeida and Burke have been forces for the Warriors, as they’re tied for the team lead in points with 6 through three games. Burke has three goals, while Almeida has a pair.  

Scoring Summary

First Period

No scoring.

Second Period

1-0, Warriors, Justin Almeida from Josh Brook and Brayden Burke, 16:03

Justin Almeida gets the all-important first goal of this game for the Warriors late in the second period pic.twitter.com/1YLxOAiAz2

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) March 29, 2018

Third Period

2-0, Warriors, Brayden Burke from Josh Brook, 19:44

Burke scores the empty netter and Warriors will win this one, take a 2-0 win and a 3-1 series lead into Saturday’s Game 5 in Moose Jaw pic.twitter.com/Pxo5OVH6dF

— Jeff D’Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) March 29, 2018

Do-or-die Game 5

Both teams will head down to Moose Jaw on Saturday night for Game 5 at 7 p.m. If the Raiders win that, they’ll force a Game 6 at the Art Hauser Centre on Sunday at 6 p.m. If it’s needed, Game 7 will be at Mosaic Place in the Friendly City on Tuesday.

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW